Mattress-stuffing machine.



No. 628,047. Patented July 4, I899.

n. n.- THOMPSON.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Applicationfiled June 11, 1898.)

(No Model.) 4 S heeisSheet Tnz'uonms versus :0, wow-man, WASHINGTON. o c.

No. 628,047. Patented July 4, I899. n. n, THOMPSON.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2,

No. 628,047. Patented July 4, I899. n. n. THOMPSON.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.)

4 Sheet Sheet 3,

(No Model.)

rill- II a IIIIIII/IIIlII/IJIIIIIIIIIII/A M m 0 w m V m m m M m M m M I ll umn Patented July 4,899. B. R. THOMPSON.

MATTRESS STUFFING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 11, 1898.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT R. THOMPSON, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS,-ASSIGNOR TO THE NA- TIONAL MATTRESS MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MATTRESS-STUFFING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,047, dated July 4, 1899. Application filed .Tune 11, 1898. Serial No. 683,181. (No model.)

To call whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT R. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Bloomington, in the county of Mc- Lean and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mattress-Stuffing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in mattress-stuffing machines, the object beingto produce a simple, practicable, and comparatively inexpensive machine for stuffing mattresses. tention has been given to the construction of the adjustable boxfor containing the material to be compressed, the compression top or cover, and certain other auxiliary operating mechanisms which complete the machine, a description of which will be found in the following specification and the essential features definitely pointed out in the claims appended thereto.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings by means of ten figures, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical central longitudinal section thereof, the section being taken in line 2 2 of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section in line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the forward end of the machine, certain portions being broken away to expose other important parts. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the corner-posts and compression-rods. Fig. 6 is a view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section, the line of section being taken at 6 6 in Fig. 1 and certain portions broken away to expose more important parts. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail vertical section of a clamp for fastening the side rails to the floor, the line of section being taken at line 7 7 in Figs. 6 and 8. Fig. 8 is a plan view of said clamping device, the side rail being shown in horizontal section and the line of section being taken at line 8 8 in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail cross-section of one of the side rails, the line of section being taken at 9 9 in Fig. 6; and Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the forward end Especial atof the machine, including the side rail, gate, and appurtenances.

In the views, A A A A represent the four corner-posts of the machine, and a a a certain longitudinal and transverse connecting members adapted to make a preferably rigid framework. Upon the transverse members a is secured a platform or floor A, having alongits center a longitudinal slot to, in which slides the neck I) of a plunger B, which is adapted to force the compressed material out through the open end of the boX and into the tick or mattress-covering.

Upon the platform or floor are adj ustably secured two side rails C, forming the sides of the box into which the materialis placed. They are vertically expansible in order that when the loose material is placed in the box the side rails may be of sufficient height to contain the quantity of material necessary to fill a mattress. As seen in Figs. 2, 3, and 9, a-hood O, U-shaped in cross-section, embraces the board 0 and is supported above the same by springs c c, the spring 0 being secured in a notch in the upper face of the board 0 and having one end impinging upon the upper portion of the hood and the spring 0 being secured to one'end of a rod 0 which passes through an opening in the board 0 and is secured to the top of the hood O,'as seen in Fig. 9. The other end of the spring 0' is secured in a suitable screw-eye or staple c fastened to the board 0. The tension of both springs is sufficient to raise the hood to the position shown in the drawings whenever downward pressure upon j the same is removed. The hoods are preferably formed of thin sheet metal, and to prevent bending or accidental displacement of the same with reference to the board 0 a stiff bar 0 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is pivoted to the hood at c and extends obliquely downward and rearward into a recess provided therefor in the board 0. This end of the bar is slidingly secured to the board 0 by a headed pin 0 running in a slot 0 in the bar, which allows the vertical movement of the hood with reference to the board 0.

The side railsare adapted to be adjusted laterally in order to form different widths of mattresses and for the purpose of rigidly securing them to the platform or floor clamps D are provided. The clamps are secured to the side rails, as seen in Figs. 1, 6, 7, and 8, and are formed with bosses (1, having the inclined upper faces 61'. (See Fig. 1.) In these bosses are pivotally secured cranks d having pivot portions (Z passing through the bosses and hooks (1 formed upon the ends of the pivot portions. A series of holes 01 are made in the floor, as seen in Fig. 6, and upon the under side thereof are secured perforated bars D, upon which the engaging ends or hooks d impinge when the clamps are in a locked position. In the drawings the clamps are shown in such a position, and in Fig. 7 the crank is shown in dotted lines as swung into a diametrically opposite position and raised above the platform, the engaging portion (1 entering a socket 61 formed in the boss d. lVhen the cranks d are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7, the side rails may evidently be adjusted laterally to the position desired, and when such position is attained the levers may be dropped through the adjacent openings d and swung into the position shown in full lines, the movement of the crank upon the inclined face (1 of the boss raising the engaging end (1 and crowding it against the perforated bar D, thereby rigidly clamping the side rails to the platform or floor.

Upon the forward ends of the side rails is secured a spout adapted to move with the side rails and upon which the tick is slipped when the stuffing material has been cornpressed and is ready to be forced into the tick. As shown, the spout consists of two U- shaped sheet-metal portions E E, the ends of the portion E preferably overlapping the ends of the portion E, so that when the spout is in its expanded position a perfect rectangular tube will be formed. Looking at Fig. 10, two brackets e e are secured to the side bar 0, the bracket 6 being secured to the upper portions of the two halves E E, which form the spout, and the bracket 6 extending below the bottom of the side board 0, where it is bent back upon itself in a U shape 6 (see Fig. 10) and then outwardly in a plane at right angles to the main portion and secured to, the under sides of said halves E E of the spout, as seen in Fig. 4. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the upper and lower sides of the spout adjacent to the head-board a and transverse bar a of the machine are bent at right angles and back upon themselves and slide in brackets 6 e the object being to prevent these portions from buckling inward and obstructing the passage-way.

Between the ends of the side rails and the spout is pivoted a gate F, adapted to close up the end of the box when desired and to be swung down into a horizontal plane, so as to allow the stuffing material to pass over the same. As shown, the lower edge of the gate is wrapped around a rod f, which is journalcd upon the posts A (see Fig. 4) and is bent at right angles upon its ends to form handles f by means of which the end gate may be oscillated. The end portions of the spout are cut away, as seen at e, to permit the gate to be swung down ward without striking the spout, and the edges thus formed by cutting away the are are preferably bent outward in order that the stufling material may pass rapidly into the spout and not engage upon these edges. At a convenient place above the gate is journaled a rod f, having upon its ends suitable handles f for operating the same. Apair of dogs f f (see Figs. 4. and 9) are secured upon the rod f at points near the ends of the gate F, these dogs being adapted to engage the gate and prevent the same from beingswung down when compressing the material within the box. Pinsf are provided upon the posts A, limiting the movement of the handles in one direction, and when the same are swung in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1, 4t, and 10 the dogs are swung upward out of engagement with the gate, thereby allowing the same to be swung downward, so that the compressed material may be forced out through the opening in the end of the box.

The compression top or cover G is seen in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, and is provided with suitable longitudinally and transversely extending trusses g 9, adapted to give the necessary stiffness to the same. \Vhen in the position shown in the drawings, the cover is supported by four compression-rods H H H H, pivoted attheir lower ends to levers it, mounted upon transversely-extending shafts I I, journaled upon the posts A of the frame. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) The upper ends of the compression-rods are notched, all of the notches opening toward the front of the machine, and in these notches rest gudgeons 1 which are secured to the cover G at or near the corners. It should be noticed that the notches of the compression-rods H are slightly higher than the other notches, the rear gudgeons 9 being correspondingly higher that the gudgeons uponthe forward end of the frame, the object being to permit the rear gudgeons to pass over the tops of the compression-rods H without striking them when the cover is removed from the position shown in the drawings-that is, when the box is uncovered for the purpose of filling it with the material to be compressed. It is obvious that when the cover rests upon the com prcssion-rods H H the latter are held thereby in an approximately upright position; but when the cover is removed from the compression-rods it is necessary to provide means for supporting them until again connected to the cover. Looking at Figs. 1 and 5, a plate S will be seen secured to the inner faces of the posts A, said plate being formed with a notch s, lying in the path of a pin 8' upon the compression-rod. \Vhen the rod is in its highest position, the pin 8 rests in the notch and holds the rod in an upright position and at the IIO same time in the proper position so that the gudgeons will enter the notches h h when the cover is brought into position upon the box.

The shafts I I are provided upon their outer ends with sockets t into which are inserted levers I (see Fig. 1,) by which the cover is raised or lowered. In order that the cover may be evenly raised or lowered at the four corners, it is necessary that the shafts I I rotate in unison, and for this reason they are connected by suitable means which cause them to travel together. The means here shown consists of two sprocketwheels 2' i mounted upon the shafts I I and connected by chains 2' t of suitable length to sufiiciently rotate the sprocket-wheels,and their ends connected by rods i each rod extending from the upper end of one chain to the lower end of the other, thereby reversing the direction of movement of the sprocket-wheels and at the same time causing them to move in unison.

When the machine is to be loaded with the stufiing material, the cover is slid away from its position shown in the drawings by the operator. Looking at Figs. 1, 2, and 6, two legs 9 will be seen secured to the rear corners of the cover, and in the lower ends of the legs are journaled flanged rollers g adapted to run upon the longitudinal edges of the platform. When the cover is in the position shown, the rollers do not rest upon the platform, but are suspended beyond the rear end thereof, the platform extending merely to the rear face of the posts A. (See Fig. 6.)

Along the middle line of the cover and upon the under side thereof is formed a longitudinal groove g (see Figs. 2 and 3,) adapted to embrace the web j of a T-iron J, one end of which is supported by the head-board a and the other end by a standard or frame j. As the cover rides out upon the T-iron the groove therein prevents the cover from any lateral movement. At various points in this groove are journaled rollers j to avoid the friction between the T-iron and cover as the latter moves thereon.

The positions of the rollers g with respect to the rear edge of the platform A and of the forward roller g with respect to the end of the T-iron J are such that the rollers will engage and rest upon the platform and T-iron, respectively, at or before the instant the gudgeons 9 leave the notches in the compression-rods H II, thereby insuring a perfectly even motion of the cover in sliding it on or off the T-iron. The forwardedge of the cover is so arranged with respect to the head-board a that when it is lowered it will not strike the latter, the rollers 9 also passing by the rear edge of the platform.

The plunger B, above referred to, is made laterally expansible by means of two boards 17' I), held in front of the plunger-head by a hook b (See Figs. 2 and 6.) A rack-bar B is located below the platform A and is connected to the plunger by the neck b, running in the groove (1 The other end of the rack- The shaft P is rotated by suitable gearing interposed between it and a crank r, (see Fig. 1,) secured upon the end of a shaft B, said gearing comprising a pinion r, fast upon the shaft R, meshing with a gear r upon the shaft P. By rotating the crank rin the proper direction power is transmitted to the plunger B and the latter forced forward, crowding the compressed stuffing material out through the spout.

In operating this machine the cover is first slid upon the T-iron, thereby exposing the box, which is filled with'stufling material sufficient for the desired mattress. The cover is then pushed back until the gudgeons rest in the notches h h and the rollers g g are free from the platform and T-iron, respectively. The levers I are then swung toward each other until the cranks z' t are carried by the dead-centers, thereby bringing the cover down upon the mattress material and compressing it, the hood 0 being pushed down upon the side board 0 by the cover. The gate being in its raised position, the crank 'r is rotated in the proper direction, thereby crowding the compressed material against the end gate F in order to compress it longitudinally. The tick is then placed on the 1 spout, the gate swung down, and the plunger carried forward by the further rotation of the crank 7 until the stuffing material has been entirely ejected from the spout. The plunger is then pushed backward to the position shown in the drawings, the end gate raised, the cover slid away from the box, and the machine is in position to be reloaded.

I am aware that various alterations and modifications of the different portions of the machine are possible, and I desire, therefore, not to limit myself to the exact construction shown and described.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In a machine of the class described, a press-box having a suitable top and bottom, one of which is movable toward and from the other, and side rails one of which is vertically expansible and compressible and laterally adj ustable with respect to the box; substantially as described.

2. In a mattress-stulfing machine, a pressbox having a vertically expansible and compressible side rail; substantially as described.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a rigid framework, a bottom fixed thereto, a vertically-movable top and suitable side rails, one of which is vertically cxpansible and compressible and laterally adjustable between said top and bottom; substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described a side rail embraced between the top and bottom and made up of a rigid portion and a portion vertically movable with respect thereto and provided with a spring tending to keep it in its vertically-extended position; substantially as described.

5. In a machine of the class described, a press-box havinga vertically and horizontally movable cover, means for moving said cover vertically to press the stuffing material and means for sustaining said cover adapted to permit it to be moved horizontally to uncover the press-box when the stuffing materialis to be placed therein; substantially as described.

0. In a machine of the class described, a press-box havingavertically andhorizontally movable cover, means for moving said cover vertically to compress the stuffing material said means containing devices engaging said cover against vertical, but not against horizontal movement in the direction desired and means for sustaining said cover when moved in the proper direction to uncover the box; substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, a laterally-adjustable side rail having an extension forming part of a spout, and a pivoted or hinged gate pivoted at any side between the side rail and the spout, said extension being cut away to allow the gate to swing upon its hinge, from a vertical position adjacent to the end of the side rail to a horizontal position within the spout; substantially as described.

8. In a machine of the class described, a press-box having a suitable bottom and top and con taining a com pressible side rail formed with two overlapping portions provided with springs tending to extend the side rail to its greatest width; substantially as described.

9. In a machine of the class described, a press-box having in combination with suitable top and bottomavertically compressible and expansible side rail composed of the relativelystationary portion,G, and the U -shaped movable portion, 0, overlapping the portion, 0, upon both sides and forming a hood therefor and means for extending said side rail; substantially as described.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a suitable press-box and a horizontally and vertically movable cover provided with means of engagement therewith, of the hooked arms, H, adapted to engage .with said cover to prevent movement thereof, except in a horizontal direction, said arms being pivoted at their lower ends to oscillating cranks connected together and provided with means for their oscillation and devices for engaging the upper portions. of said arms against horizontal movement at the upward limit of their movement; substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at Bloomington, in the county of Mc- Lean and State of Illinois, this 4th day of June, A. D. 1898.

ROBERT R. THOMPSON.

lVitnesses:

M. GRINDROD, J. BLACKFORD. 

